Citarum River

Over 5 million people live in the Citarum River’s basin, and over 2,000 industries here pump in toxic waste to the site, so it’s no surprise that this river in Java, Indonesia, is one of the world’s most polluted. In some places, the water is hardly visible because there is so much garbage floating on top!

Unfortunately, the water itself is no better. The river supports the sewerage system and the factories have contaminated it with lead, mercury, arsenic, and other toxins. A long-overdue revitalization process is in progress, but we think it will be many years before anyone will choose to swim there!